MENTONE - Hoping to crack down on unsafe and unsightly buildings, the Mentone Town Council Monday heard from state representatives on creating a building department.

Donald LeBrun is a code official for the Code Enforcement and Plan Review Branch of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security Division of Fire and Building Safety.

He said he could help the town get the department started and provided the council with a sample building code.

Councilman Roger Long said Mentone does have a part-time building inspector, but wants to give the inspector "more bite."

By statute, LeBrun said, Mentone doesn't have a building department. If Mentone approves an ordinance, it will be approved by the state and Mentone can create its building department. There is "lots of home rule" the state won't meddle with.

"The scope of the ordinance is just to regulate construction in the area," LeBrun said.

The ordinance defines such terms as the building commissioner, class 1 and 2 structures, construction, industrialized building system, manufactured homes and mobile structures.

Section 8 of Article II states that construction is prohibited unless in conformity with a valid building permit obtained from the building commissioner prior to commencement of construction. Section 9 details the requirements of a person applying for a building permit. The ordinance also addresses investigations and inspections of construction, withholding issuance of permits and permit revocation. Civil action, monetary penalties and right to appeal also are addressed.

If approved by the county commissioners, the town also could have building authority within a maximum of two miles outside the town limits. Tim Croy, council president, said the town definitely wants to take in the two miles around the town.

"We'll just start on the south side," Croy said.

Two miles out from the town on some sides crosses county lines, said Jim Eads, town marshall.

"The two miles is a maximum," said Long.

"This is a boiler plate," LeBrun said of the sample ordinance. "You fill in the blanks."

"Sounds good," said Croy.

"Right now we have nothing," said councilman Jack Simpson. "So minimal, we have nothing."

If the town makes any changes to the ordinance LeBrun presented, he advised the town council to contact him. "Make sure it's something the commission will accept."

The ordinance LeBrun presented must be approved before the ordinance adopting the Indiana Unsafe Building Law can be approved. Larry Beeson, town attorney, presented a copy of the Unsafe Building Law ordinance.

The town council approved a motion to allow Beeson to look into the two-mile zoning ordinance. They also approved to meet again March 13 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the fees and fines for the building ordinances.

In other business, the town council:

• Approved $2,180 for Dixon Engineering to inspect the town's water tower.

• Announced the Kosciusko County Health Department in cooperation with the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District will be accepting tires once a month for the next eight months at 220 S. Union St., Warsaw. Tires only will be accepted between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9 and Oct. 14.

Croy said the town has vouchers for any Mentone resident who may want to dispose of any tires. Tires must be off their rims.

If a person has more tires than permitted with the voucher, the KCSWMD costs are $1.25 to dispose of each additional car tire, $5 for each additional large truck tire, or $15 for each additional tractor tire. [[In-content Ad]]